Lexical Definition
Βηθλεέμ Bēthleém (bayth-leh-em') Bethlehem N:N--L
of Hebrew origin (בֵּית לְעַפְרָה)
Bethlehem.
- Bethleem (i.e. Beth-lechem), a place in Palestine
Abbott-Smith
Βηθλέεμ, ἡ, indecl. (Heb. בֵּית לֶחֶם, house of bread),
Bethlehem, a town 6 m. S. of Jerusalem: Mt 2:1, 5, 6, 8, 16, Lk 2:4, 15, Jo 7:42.†
Abbott-Smith References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Matthew | 2:1 · 2:5 · 2:6 · 2:8 · 2:16 |
| Luke | 2:4 · 2:15 |
| John | 7:42 |
Profile
Bethlehem_1 • In Judah • City of David's birth and Jesus' birth.
Bethlehem, also called Ephrath or Ephrathah, was the city where David and Jesus were born, located in Judah. (Multiple references, see article for details)
- A location in Judah Tribe first mentioned at Gen.35.16;
- referred to as Bethlehem בֵּית לֶחֶם, or Bethlehemite בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי, or Lehem (KJV= Jashubi-lehem) יָשֻׁבִי לֶחֶם, or Ephrath or Ephrathah (KJV= Ephratah) אֶפְרָת, or Bethlehem Βηθλεέμ.
Bethlehem, also known as Ephrath or Ephrathah, is a city located in the hill country of Judah, approximately 5 miles south of Jerusalem. The name Bethlehem means "house of bread," while Ephrath or Ephrathah means "fruitful."
Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Bible as the burial place of Rachel, Jacob's wife (Genesis 35:19; 48:7). It was also the hometown of Ibzan, one of the judges of Israel (Judges 12:8, 10).
During the period of the judges, a Levite from Bethlehem became a priest for Micah's idolatrous shrine (Judges 17:7-9). Later, a Levite from Bethlehem traveled to Gibeah, where his concubine was mistreated, leading to a war between the Israelites and the Benjamites (Judges 19:1-2, 18).
The book of Ruth is set primarily in Bethlehem, where Naomi and her family were from (Ruth 1:1-2, 19, 22). Boaz, who married Ruth, was also from Bethlehem (Ruth 2:4; 4:11).
Bethlehem is most famously known as the hometown of King David (1 Samuel 16:1, 18; 17:12, 15; 20:6, 28). It was in Bethlehem that Samuel anointed David as the future king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:4). During David's reign, the city was referred to as the "city of David" (Luke 2:4, 11).
Several of David's mighty men, including Abishai and Elhanan, were from Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:24; 1 Chronicles 11:26; 2 Samuel 21:19).
In the New Testament, Bethlehem is celebrated as the birthplace of Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:1, 5-6, 8, 16; Luke 2:4, 15; John 7:42). The Magi visited Jesus in Bethlehem, and King Herod ordered the massacre of the innocents there in an attempt to kill the newborn king (Matthew 2:16).
The prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and this prophecy is cited in Matthew 2:5-6.
All entries for Bethlehem or Lehem or Ephrath or Ephrathah: בֵּית לֶחֶם ☩ בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי ☩ יָשֻׁבִי לֶחֶם ☩ אֶפְרָת ☩ Βηθλεέμ